Şarık Tara
Who was Şarık Tara?
Turkish businessperson (1930–2018)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Şarık Tara (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Şarık Tara, originally named Šarik Hadžihamzić, was born on April 22, 1930, in Skopje, which was then part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. He later became a Turkish citizen and became one of the most influential figures in Turkish construction and industry. Tara passed away on June 28, 2018, in Istanbul, leaving a vast business empire and a legacy as one of Turkey's leading industrialists and philanthropists of the 20th century.
He studied civil engineering at Istanbul Technical University, an institution known for producing many of Turkey's top engineers and architects. This technical education set the stage for an international career spanning construction projects in numerous countries. After graduating, he joined the construction industry during a period of major infrastructural development in Turkey, which created chances for ambitious engineers who could handle large-scale projects.
In 1957, Tara co-founded Enka İnşaat ve Sanayi A.Ş. with Sadi Gülçelik. What began as a small construction firm expanded into one of Turkey's largest and most internationally active construction conglomerates. Enka took on projects in the Middle East, Russia, Central Asia, and other regions, establishing a global reach that few Turkish firms at the time could equal. The company diversified into energy, real estate, and trade, growing into a broad industrial holding.
Outside of his business endeavors, Tara was known for his philanthropic work. He supported educational institutions, cultural projects, and civic initiatives in Turkey. His philanthropy demonstrated his strong sense of civic duty that defined his public persona in his later years. Those who worked with him described him as a person who combined technical expertise with entrepreneurial courage and a genuine commitment to the communities where his companies operated.
At his death in 2018, Tara was seen as a billionaire whose wealth was built through years of careful management and strategic international growth. His journey took him from wartime Skopje to the highest levels of Turkish and global business, a path shaped by education, timing, and a remarkable ability to build lasting institutions.
Before Fame
Şarık Tara was born in Skopje in 1930, a city that was then part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and featured a mix of ethnic and religious communities. His birth name, Šarik Hadžihamzić, showcases his Balkan roots. The political changes of the 1930s and 1940s, including World War II and the later changes to borders in southeastern Europe, influenced his early life and likely played a role in his move to Turkey.
Tara's journey to success began at Istanbul Technical University, where he studied to become a civil engineer. He graduated at a time when Turkey was rapidly modernizing its infrastructure, driven by government-led development projects. There was a significant demand for technically skilled workers in the construction industry, which was focused on building roads, bridges, housing, and industrial facilities. In this environment full of growth and new opportunities, Tara honed his technical skills and entrepreneurial spirit, ultimately founding Enka in 1957.
Key Achievements
- Co-founded Enka İnşaat ve Sanayi A.Ş. in 1957, which grew into one of Turkey's largest construction and industrial conglomerates.
- Expanded Enka into an internationally operating company with projects across the Middle East, Russia, and Central Asia.
- Built a diversified holding company encompassing construction, energy, real estate, and trade under the Enka umbrella.
- Attained billionaire status through decades of sustained business development, becoming one of Turkey's wealthiest individuals.
- Contributed significantly to Turkish philanthropic and civic life, supporting educational and cultural institutions over many decades.
Did You Know?
- 01.Tara was born with the name Šarik Hadžihamzić, reflecting his South Slavic Balkan heritage, and later adopted the Turkish surname Tara after relocating to Turkey.
- 02.He co-founded Enka İnşaat ve Sanayi A.Ş. in 1957 with fellow businessman Sadi Gülçelik, beginning what would become one of Turkey's most internationally active construction companies.
- 03.Enka, the company Tara built, eventually completed major construction projects in Russia during the post-Soviet era, placing it among the few Turkish firms with a significant presence in the former Soviet states.
- 04.Tara was born in Skopje, a city that has belonged to at least three different countries or political entities over the course of the twentieth century, reflecting the turbulent history of the Balkans.
- 05.Despite building a multi-billion dollar enterprise, Tara maintained a relatively low public profile compared to many of his peers in Turkish business, with his philanthropy often conducted without significant personal publicity.